Reports on some recent and upcoming investment collected from the local business media:

• Retail: DIY retailer Home Depot announced investment of US$115 million in Mexico in the current year, principally for the opening of five new stores.  The leader in its segment in Mexico, Home Depot projects 85 retail locations in operation by the end of 2010.
• Environmental:  The North American Development Bank (NADBank) has ramped up its financing of environmental and other infrastructural projects in Mexico’s northern border zone over the past three years, local media report.  Projects in Mexico financed by the bank during this period include 32 water treatment plants, 50 drainage and potable water systems and 12 solid waste landfills.
• Telecommunications: Telecom service provider Nextel projects investing up to US$1.5 billion in the construction of new network infrastructure.  Nextel recently won a nationwide spectrum auction in Mexico in partnership with television broadcast giant Televisa.
• Aerospace: U.S.-based aircraft manufacturer Hawker Beechcraft is currently constructing a new production plant in the northern city of Chihuahua.  The US$108 million facility, set to produce aircraft assemblies and subassemblies, will become the company’s second manufacturing plant in Chihuahua, further bolstering Mexico’s robust aerospace sector.
• Automotive: General Motors de Mexico announced projected investment of US$500 million in the northern state of Coahuila to produce a new generation of eight-cylinder motors as well as a new vehicle platform.  Projects supported by the new investment are planned to begin this year with actual production set for 2011.
• Franchising: Fast-food chain Burger King announced 2010 investment of approximately US$15 million in order to open 20 new restaurants in Mexico.  The chain’s Mexico expansion also will include doubling the number of “dessert kiosks” from 18 to 36.
• Automotive:  Automaker Volkswagen announced new planned investments of up to US$1 billion over the next three years in its Mexico operations.  Projects under the program include modernization of the Puebla plant to produce the next generation Beetle and construction of a new plant to produce a new generation of motors for Mexico and U.S. auto production.
• Energy: Mitsui Power America, affiliate of Japanese multinational Mitsui, announced projected investment of up to US$2.5 billion in Mexico over the next five years.  The company recently acquired five electricity generating plants in the country and plans further expansion in the energy sector.
• Automotive: Nissan Mexicana plans to invest US$600 million to begin producing two additional auto models at the company’s Aguascalientes plant in 2011 and 2012.  Mexico was chosen over various Asian countries considered for the production of the new versions of Nissan’s March model.
• Food Processing: Mexican dairy processor Lechera Guadalajara opened the country’s second largest milk dehydrating plant, following investment of approximately US$10 million.  The company is also currently building an additional plant to produce cheese and candy.
• Energy: The western sate of Jalisco will get its first wind energy park by the end of 2011, currently in development by Eoliatec de Mexico.  The US$100 million facility is projected to have a total capacity of 60MW, which will be supplied to the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE).
• Real Estate: AMResorts announced plans to build two luxury hotels in Puerta Vallarta through investment of a projected US$150 million.  The project is hoped to help reactivate long sluggish hotel development in the area.
• Paper: Mexican paper and packaging materials manufacturer Bio-PAPPEL will invest approximately US$250 million over the next four years to build five new production plants.  Formerly known as Corporación Durango (Codusa), the firm plans to incorporate electricity generating plants into each of its new production facilities.
• Infrastructure: The Mexican government is projecting private sector investment in infrastructure development of up to US$34 billion between 2010 – 2012.  The largest share of the investment is expected to be in telecommunications, with roads, ports, water management and airports receiving significant capital as well.

Reports on some recent and upcoming investment collected from the local business media:

• Steel:  Mexico’s steel manufacturing industry chamber of commerce Canacero projected investments of US$10 billion over the next five years to significantly boost production in the sector.  Canacero estimates production will increase 13.5% this year over 2009, when output dropped significantly.
• Airports: The Mexican Ministry of Transport (SCT) announced plans for three new airports to be constructed in 2010, with investment of US$36 million.  The local airport developments are planned for La Pesca in the northeast and the tourist sites Creel in the north and Palenque in the south.
• Transport: Inter-city bus operator Grupo IAMSA reported it plans to add 300 new luxury buses to its fleet this year.  The US$100 million investment is slated to go primarily to Volvo for the new buses.
• Aerospace: French aerospace manufacturer Grupo Safran inaugurated two new plants in an aerospace park in the central state of Queretaro, site one of Mexico’s leading aerospace clusters.  The approximately US$150 million investment set up plants for Safran’s affiliates Messier-Dowty and Snecma to produce jet engine parts and undercarriages.
• Solar power: BP Solar, the solar technology subsidiary of Great Britain-based energy giant BP, announced plans to subcontract the assembly of solar modules with Jabil Circuit in Chihuahua, northern Mexico.  Plans call for producing modules with a combined capacity of 45 MW, with the possibility for expansion as demand dictates.
• Retail: Mexican low-priced department store chain Coppel announced aggressive expansion plans, including forays into the Brizilian and Argentinian markets.  The program includes investment of approximately US$120 million and the opening of 100 new stores, principally in southern Mexico.
• Automotive: Japanese automaker Nissan announced it will begin producing its new model of the Micra compact automobile at the company’s plant in Auguascalientes, Mexico.
• Food processing: Mexican processed dairy products maker Chilchota reported plans to return to the retail milk market, which it had exited in 2000.  Chilchota will invest US$10 million to launch milk presentations for supermarket sale, despite heavy competition from market leaders Lala, Nestle and Alpura.
• Real estate: Spanish real estate developer Grupo Lar announced plans to reactivate stalled projects and launch new developments in Mexico in 2010.  The company will invest some US$40 million, principally in residential developments.
• Rail transport: Mexican railroad operator Ferrocarril del Valle de México (Ferrovalle) announced plans to invest approximately US$12 million this year in infrastructure and equipment upgrades.  The company is projecting an increase in container freight in 2010.
• Retail: Leading Mexican retailer Soriana revealed plans to invest US$200 million to open 42 stores under its new “Soriana Express” format.  The new format targets middle and lower middle class consumers in locations with populations of under 50,000.
• Retail: Leading office supplies retailer Office Depot announced US$60 million in upcoming investment, including the opening of 10 new stores in Mexico.  The chain opened seven stores in Mexico in 2009 despite the extremely depressed economy.
• Water management: The Mexican government announced upcoming tenders for water management infrastructure projects worth an estimated US$2.6 billion.  The government is seeking foreign investment for the projects which include aqueducts, water treatment facilities and desalinization plants, among others.
• Aviation: Mexican domestic airline Interjet announced plans to invest US$50 million to expand its MRO facilities at its base at the Toluca airport.  Since launching passenger service in December 2005, Interjet has grown to become Mexico’s fourth largest airline.  Interjet provides aircraft maintenance services to airplane leasing companies.
• Medical: Centro Medico ABC, one of Mexico´s leading private hospitals, will construct a new Neurosciences and Orthopedics Center in the upscale Santa Fe zone of Mexico City.  The announced US$16 million in investment in the project will include design services and acquisition of advanced technology clinical equipment, among other outlays.
• Industrial gas: U.S. industrial gases producer Praxair announced planned investment in Mexico of US$150 million in 2010.  Projects include a new air separation plant in Monterrey and upgrades to plants in the states of Hidalgo, Queretaro and Tamaulipas.
• Aerospace: Mexican industrial group Grupo Kuo, best known for its Herdez brand of processed foods, has announced it will enter the aerospace manufacturing industry this year.  The group, which also manufactures chemicals and autoparts, is in the process of obtaining SAE AS 9100B certification and hopes to begin manufacturing landing gear components by the end of this year.
• Logistics: The Queretaro Intermodal Terminal is projecting investment of up to US$100 million this year for expansion of land area and infrastructure.  The planned upgrades include construction of a new terminal for handling refrigerated cargo.